Remember the last time I blogged?

Me neither. I'm surprised I'm not getting reminders from miss Lottes (she must be busy or something!)

Anyway, I am doing well in Baltimore. Today I am 6 weeks done, with 6 weeks to go. The rest of the year into next spring has me traveling all over the states, and I'm tired just thinking of it. Anyway, an update on my life in Baltimore.

My days, are flying. A typical day in the life of an internal medicine student-I am at the hospital by 7:30am. I go visit with my patients, check their charts and the computer for overnight changes/attending recommendations. At 8am, we have morning report-where one of the approximately 20 interns presents a case, and discusses physical exam, lab, and imaging findings, diagnosis and treatment plans. After MR, I meet with my intern and update her on my patients. I write a progress note for their chart, we go see the patient together, and then she writes the assessment and plan portion of my note (something only an m.d. can do). We discuss future plans, medications, and possible complications. I have two patients, and the other student in my group has 2. If we have time after, we go see the rest of our interns patients (up to 6) before noon conference. Noon conference is a physician teaching us about anything and everything-sometimes interesting, and sometimes boring. After lunch, we do more of the same with our intern, and sometimes we have attending rounds, where a physician meets with us and asks us questions around a table-with more pressure on the interns but some on us as well. At 2pm we have student lecture. Once every 6 days I am on early call (7am-12pm), and once every 6 days I am on late call (4pm-9pm). Twice a week I am on afternoon call (12pm-4pm). During those hours, we admit patients from the ED who are too ill/unstable to go home, onto the hospital floor.

Needless to say, I'm really busy. On top of that, I am the student representative for our group of 32 students with one other guy. We organize presentations and student responsibilities throughout the day, set up the monthly schedules, and relay information from the director and chief residents.

The best part of Baltimore is when friends and family come to visit. I have been absolutely spoiled with visitors. I have had visits from Alissa Chaney (x2), Mary & Andy, Amy Winter, and Cassie Buckley & her friend Ann, whose last name I don't know. I have also been to D.C. to see Amy and my dear SMU friend Nirav, who was visiting from Atlanta. Not to mention a few visits to D.C. to see cousins Casey & Andrew, and the Schiraldi gang minus Nick-who is away working at a camp. My days filled with familiar faces keep me going on all the days I'm sucked up into this medical world.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer, I will try to write more frequently!
Chances are if you're reading this, I'm missing you.
All my love-Laura

Also-I wanted to wish my wonderful cousin a happy birthday today. Can't wait to see you soon, Kris!